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BEAM P
LUS FOR
N
EW
B
UILDINGS
M
ATERIALS
A
SPECTS
(M
A
)
V
ERSION
1.2
M
A
5 R
APIDLY
R
ENEWABLE
M
ATERIALS
Copyright © 2012 BEAM Society Limited. All rights reserved.
Page 78
B
ACKGROUND
Most building materials necessitate the consumption of large amounts of
natural resources. Rapidly renewable materials are materials that
substantially
replenish
themselves faster than traditional extraction
demands (i.e., planted and harvested in less than a 10 year cycle) and
do not result in significant biodiversity loss, increased erosion, or air
quality impacts. Rapidly renewable materials include, but are not limited
to, bamboo, linoleum, cork, fast-growing poplar, pine and products such
as wheat straw cabinetry. Materials such a bamboo, wool, natural
linoleum, etc. require fewer inputs, have reduced environmental impacts,
and can provide economic benefits.
Designers should establish objectives for the use of rapidly renewable
materials and identify where such materials can be applied as substitutes
for more commonly used resource intensive materials. The use of
materials such as bamboo flooring, strawboard, cotton insulation, natural
linoleum flooring, etc. should be considered as a minimum.